Google Chat Demo

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Live Demo

A temporary live demo can be viewed at http://matt.gs/google-chat.

Dependencies

• NPM (Node Package Manager)

Instructions

1. Run npm install inside the /server directory.
2. Then run node server.js inside the same directory to start the Socket.io server.

Code Annotations

Source code is annotated under the /docs directory.

Features

• Minimize/restore, popout and close buttons work.
• Completely resizable widget.
• Message input area grows automatically and adjusts the chat area height accordingly.
• Newlines can be inserted into messages by pressing Ctrl + Enter.
• Uses gravatars for profile pictures if one has been assigned to the email address.
• Animated messages and upload icon.

Future Improvements

• Structure the code using a more modular pattern, perhaps AMD, using something like RequireJs. Right now the code is so small that this is would be overkill.
• Have a live list of users currently viewing the demo and all them to chat with each other using the widget. Prompt their name and email address when they first view the page and get their gravatar using their email if possible.
• Update the time messages were sent instead of the fixed 'Now' text.
• Fade the blue border surrounding the message input area when the widget loses focus.